This week on Talk Azeroth, it's the appearance of some new hats on the battle.net store that's caught Olivia's attention! These three new hats are for transmogrification purposes only, and have no stats at all. Olivia shelled out £10 of her hard earned cash to check out various aspects of these hats, and has some pretty strong opinions about the price point that Blizzard has set!

Onto happier news, and Olivia dives into the Proving Grounds, the latest feature to arrive on the Patch 5.4 PTR. These new solo scenarios are designed as training grounds for tanks, healers and DPS, and Olivia put together a video summing up the technical side for Wowhead yesterday, so check that out if you're interested. Olivia talks through her experience in proving grounds, and the pros and cons of Blizzard's current implementation.

Last up, it's two viewer questions! If you would like to send a question or comment, do email Olivia on olivia@zam.com, tweet her on @oliviadgrace or leave a comment below.

Comments

Comment by jynxycat

on 2013-07-18T11:55:08-05:00

"It costs too much!" -- Even though it was for your show, you still bought one.

The price may be a lot, but I wager they don't have to sell many to recoup the cost of creating it. Same with the mounts and whatnot. The fact that these exist SOLELY in the store, when we pay a monthly fee already, is a slap in the face of the community. People don't get upset about it because the store is largely out of the view of most people. When you're in game, you aren't thinking about it, you're probably thinking of your lack of loot drops in ez LFR mode.

If an in-game store replaced the external website, I would bet that more people would complain that these otherwise interesting mounts aren't available in game, and only for 1.5 months worth of subscription fees.

Overall, it's obviously smart for them. It's paying for a full month of time that you may not otherwise spend to get the same item. You could spend $15, a month of time, to get it, or if it were in game, probably a week. Nothing they would add to the store for $15 would take a month in game to get, so it's a net gain in profit for them. Loss of integrity, sure. But what do they care at this point. They just have to survive until "Titan".

Comment by miguel85nyc

on 2013-07-18T11:58:34-05:00

Will never buy it, they cost way to much and not even that good looking.. a whole set would had been nice

Comment by lankybrit

on 2013-07-18T12:18:27-05:00

"being so over-priced"?

Just watch, they'll sell absolutely bucket loads of these helms.

BTW: $15 for an American is cheaper (w.r.t. income) than 10 pounds for a Brit, so I can imagine they feel a bit more expensive over there.

And no, I won't buy one because I don't care about Tmog at all.

Cheers.

Comment by Hornhide

on 2013-07-18T12:54:03-05:00

Personally I think the price is about right, too cheap and everyone will have one, making them redundant, the only purpose in my view is to make your character stand out a bit. £10 is neither here nor there.

On the other hand, the red, ironey hat thing, is overpriced at any cost.

Comment by tankform

on 2013-07-18T13:08:39-05:00

The maxium I'd pay for a helm like that is 5 euros, not more, it's way too much seeing that items like that aren't ingame bound to lore. The frost one looks like Arthas dad's crown, and is giving me a feeling that it would fit as a reward for death knights. The aspect of class specific quests with the new feature of mists of pandaria, solo scenario would be great to see for more classses and actually reward cool looking items instead of paying for it.

Comment by ebronte76

on 2013-07-18T14:19:43-05:00

Just do not understand why people get so upset about these real money items. I have purchased all the mounts and pets from the store and even gifted some to friends/guildies. It doesn't hurt anyone when I do, but the venom spouted by many people on the forums when these things are announce is astounding.

You'd think Blizzard came over to their house and kicked a puppy. But in game I only get compliments on my purchased items...so who knows.

PS I do not think the pet store battle pets are so much better than others that it noticeable if you have a well-put together team.

Comment by Rootcaller

on 2013-07-18T19:04:48-05:00

I would never spend that amount of money on a transmog item, but that's might just be because most of my mogging is based on RP, but I do not think they are overpriced.

Olivia, I have a question for you, do you use many Addons? Which types?

Comment by Raeion

on 2013-07-18T19:54:45-05:00

The maximum I'd pay for a helm like that is 5 euros, not more, it's way too much seeing that items like that aren't ingame bound to lore. The frost one looks like Arthas dad's crown, and is giving me a feeling that it would fit as a reward for death knights. The aspect of class specific quests with the new feature of mists of pandaria, solo scenario would be great to see for more classes and actually reward cool looking items instead of paying for it.

This is exactly my thoughts, instead of this muicro transaction they should have put that never ending winter helm for DKS, i hate to see it being worn by a priest . it just wouldn't make scene ....

Comment by artenesse

on 2013-07-19T03:24:37-05:00

I am in complete agreement with you about the price point. Way.Too.High. If they were around the £2-3 pricepoint, I might consider it - if they weren't so darn ugly. Usually I'm in raptures about things that Blizzard do, and I'm always blogging about great looking places around Azeroth, and taking screenshots like a tourist with a camera, but in this case, as with the case of the last two mounts they brought to the store? (The flappy red thing, and the weird flying goat) I find myself thinking, "Really? The people with the ability to bring us so much creative genius, has brought us this! REALLY?" Will.not.purchase.

Comment by Deepthought

on 2013-07-19T04:25:25-05:00

The fact that these exist SOLELY in the store, when we pay a monthly fee already, is a slap in the face of the community.

No it isn't. It's not like they give stat bonuses or anything. There are hundreds of other helms out there, that you can get without buying from the store.

Comment by CaveMaster

on 2013-07-19T07:22:58-05:00

The fact that these exist SOLELY in the store, when we pay a monthly fee already, is a slap in the face of the community.

Anyway, those helms are ugly in my opinion. But I don't give ^&*! what they have in blizz store. They can have 1 million mounts and helms for what I care. Just as long as there is ^&*!load of awesome things in-game too. And there is.

Comment by nurseferatu

on 2013-07-19T10:21:12-05:00

I do a lot of pet battles, and I think the alleged superiority of pets from the store is one of perception rather than reality. If those are the pets you level and use, then you will likely decide they are better. Westerners also tend to equate cost with quality, so things that cost money are perceived as better than things that are free - despite our constant quest for freebies :)I cannot afford stuff from the store, but begrudge nobody else pets or mounts or awesome skull crowns (yeah, I actually like that one).Costwise, while it seems like a lot of money for not much, compared to what gets spent for similar things in other games I don't see a huge discrepancy. And folks were paying nearly that much for store pets well before pet battles came along, for something that just tags along behind you. If it makes you smile, or makes you feel awesome or terrible or fierce...go for it!

Comment by Bustywench

on 2013-07-19T15:49:28-05:00

The fact that these exist SOLELY in the store, when we pay a monthly fee already, is a slap in the face of the community. People don't get upset about it because the store is largely out of the view of most people. When you're in game, you aren't thinking about it, you're probably thinking of your lack of loot drops in ez LFR mode.

It doesn't bother me at all that the items are available only for real cash rather than available in game. The part that bothers me is when they are only available to specific regions and not others. Even someone with no income at all can still be gifted store items from friends and family.

When things are region specific or start out as available to all but then move to region specific (for example the horde and alliance pets that came with the plushies that are no longer available in the EU) it just seems to divide the different region communities apart that little bit more. I know that some different countries laws make some items difficult to get permission to sell, but it would seem fairer to make things like that universal.

Comment by Abolist

on 2013-07-19T17:46:26-05:00

I have no interest in Tmog at all. The proving grounds though may have some potential later on if rewards make an appearance. Its an interesting idea.

Comment by dekemvr

on 2013-07-20T12:56:32-05:00

I do a lot of pet battles, and I think the alleged superiority of pets from the store is one of perception rather than reality.

About the helmets,even though i am against store-bought items in a subscription model MMo,i would consider buying Raggy's horns,if the price wasn't so damn high.So if blizzard adds a whole set that suits Raggy's horns (b/c AFAIK there aren't many sets that do) and charges each piece for 10+ euros,it'd be around 50-80 euros for the whole set.

Comment by froggykitty

on 2013-07-21T12:27:39-05:00

The xmog items aren't necessary. They're pure vanity items, and if you don't like the look, don't buy them. Blizz is well within their rights to sell these things for however much they want. People will pay for it if they want it. But again, its not required, its not necessary and its not anything that gives advantage over other players.So whats the big deal?So what if other games sell their xmog gear for less? Blizz knows their customer base, they also know if its priced cheap then it also cheapens the prestige of owning it.But hey, to each their own. All I really have to say of personal value is this: Don't buy it if you don't want it, but there's nothing to !@#$% about here.

Comment by kaltoran

on 2013-07-23T21:52:34-05:00

15 bucks us... where is the rest of the "set"... blizzard sniffing glue again /sigh... pull your heads out of your arse blizzard, stop being cheap and actually sell something complete beffore you trick yourself into believing that everybody will want to pay 15 bucks for 1 piece of armor... /snorefest

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